The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 253

expression of the inner assent of our hearts, teaching ue to pray this holy prayer in the full assurance of faith I IV. 'fHE THIRD EXAMPLE: FASTING, 1. The fast which the Lord hath chosen. The Pharisee in the parable pleads hie fasting twice in the week as a merit before God. The hypocrites me.de a show of their self-denials. What they really sought was the reputation of righteousness, the praise of men. They might possibly gain it; it was all that they could gain. 2. The true fast. The Lord classes fasting, as a religious exercise, with almegiving and prayer. He gives similar rules for its due observance; he promises the like reward. What is necessary is reality; everything that savours of affectation must be banished. Our Father seeth in secret. The whole of our religious life must be referred to him; our business is with him, with him only. What men think of us matters little; his judgment is of momentous importance. The Christian rule is," Live unto the Lord," seeking only to please him, referring the whole life of thought and action only to him. He will reward those who give, who pray, who fast, as in his sight, thinking only of him who secth in secret. LESSONS. 1. Above all things be real. "All things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do." 2. Learn of the Lord the sacred words of prayer. Meditate upon them; make them your own-words to take with you. 3. Pray to GoJ. the Holy Ghost to teach you to pray them, ma.king them the voice of your heart. 4. Deny yourselves. There is a blessing for those who fast in faith and in simplicity. Vere. 19-34.-The fo-urth part of the sermon: silf-oomecration. L THE WHOLE HAN MUST BE GIVEN TO Goo. 1. The heart. God asks for it. "Give me thy heart," he eays to each of us. The heart will be where the treasure is. Where ie our treasure, our chief good, the object of our strongest desires? If it ie on earth, it will fail us at the last. "I must leave all this I I must leave all this I" was the sad cry of the great French statesman, Cardinal Mazarin, when, stricken already by the hand of death, ha took his last view of the treasures of art, the costly adornments of his earthly home. God bids us trust our precious things to him. He is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day. He asks it for our sake; it is safe in his keeping. Then lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven-the treasure of holy thoughts, holy aspira- tions, holy deeds. Above all, let Christ himself be the Treasure, the dear8l!t Possession of our hearts, the Joy of our souls. Earthly treasures are but as dross to those who win Christ, the heavenly Treasure. If our treasure is heavenly, our heart will become heavenly too-filled with heavenly affections, heavenly hopes; and this hope maketh not ashamed. 2. The intellect. 'l'he eye receives the light of the sun. If it is blinded, all is dark; if it is diseased, the image presented to tho mind is no longer clear, distinct, single, but confused, distorted, double. The intellect is the eye of the soul; but earthly affections distort and pervert it. If the heart is set on low, carnal objects, the intellect cannot discern clearly things high and heavenly; it cannot recoive the light of the Sun of Righteousness; its vision is obscure, darkened. And ff the intellect cannot see with a single eye the blessedness of religion, still more, if it becomes dark, how great must be the darkness of the whole soul I The consecrated heart enlightens tho intellect; for God dwelleth in the heart that is given to him, and his presence is the light of the soul. II. TBR GIFT :MUST BE ENTmE, THE SUBBENDEB COlllPLETE. 1. The two masters. "God spake these words, and said; I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt have none other gods but me." It was the first of the commandments of Mount Sinai; the Lord repeats it from tho Mount of the Beatitudes. There are two masters who divide tha allegiance of mankind. Some serve the living and trne God; some serve mammon- riches, earthly things. No man can serve both; it is impossible. The heart cannot be divided between the two; its chiefest affection must be set on one great centre. The true Master cannot be despised; he may be hated. Those who set their love on mammon will end in hating God. "The friendship of the world is enmity with God." He who clings to God., the heavenly Treasure, will despise tha good things of this world. 'fhere is nothing upon earth that he desireth in comparison with God. To serve mammon is to desert the true God, to set up an idol in the heart. Covetousness, Holy Scripture tells us, is idolatry. There ie no escape from this solemn, this awful, &l~rnative-God or mammon1 Jehov11h or Baal, heavon or the world. 'l'here is llQ 246 'IHE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. vr. l-3'l.